Career comparison
Intake Interviewer vs. Medical Administrative Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Medical administrative assistants earn more at the median ($45,930 vs. $45,920), while intake interviewers usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Intake interviewers interview people to collect information for forms, surveys or services. Medical administrative assistants run the front office of a clinic or hospital unit: scheduling, check-in, insurance and records.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Intake Interviewer | Medical Administrative Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $45,920 ($22.08/hr) | $45,930 ($22.08/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $33,900 – $62,810 | $35,930 – $60,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -10.4% (a projected decline) | +4.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 13,200 | 89,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | 3–12 months |
| Key credential | CHAA | Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) |
| Work setting | Interviewers work at hospital desks, call centers and agency offices.. | Medical administrative assistants work in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental practices and specialty centers. |
What each job does
Intake Interviewer
- Interview clients or patients
- Complete forms
- Verify identity and insurance
- Enter data
- Answer questions
Medical Administrative Assistant
- Schedule, confirm and reschedule patient appointments
- Register new patients and update demographic information
- Verify insurance eligibility and obtain prior authorizations
- Collect copays and post payments
- Manage referrals, records requests and faxes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people and indoor work. They sit in different fields, business & office and healthcare, but share transferable skills such as courtesy and customer service.
Which should you choose?
Choose intake interviewer if…
- I’m friendly
- I’m accurate
- I stay calm
Choose medical administrative assistant if…
- I like helping people in person and on the phone
- I can handle several tasks at the same time
- I’m careful with details like names, dates and numbers
Still torn? Take the Intake Interviewer fit quiz and the Medical Administrative Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, intake interviewer or medical administrative assistant?
Medical Administrative Assistants earn more at the median: $45,930 versus $45,920 for intake interviewers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Intake Interviewers typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than medical administrative assistants (3–12 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical administrative assistants to grow +4.8% from 2025–35, compared with -10.4% for intake interviewers.